Lando Norris continued his 2012 winning streak by taking victory in the latest club meeting at Whilton Mill in Northamptonshire. The event was a dummy-run for the opening round of the MSA Super One UK Championship, which takes place at the same circuit next weekend.
In testing on Saturday ADD Motorsports supported Lando was fastest in half of the sessions, putting him into a confident frame of mind as racing got under way on Sunday morning.
In the first heat he started fourth on the grid. A good move as the lights went out meant he was able to take the lead and pull away to record his first win of the day. He lined up 23rd for the start of heat two. A fantastic drive where he almost broke the Mini-Max lap record allowed him to reach fifth by the chequered flag.
In heat three he started 19th and after avoiding a first lap incident he was able to work his way up to another fifth place, giving him pole position for the final. With the best start position available he was hoping to get away and control the race from the front, but it turned out to be quite a different race for him.
As the lights went green Lando was swamped by the other half of the grid, crossing the start-line in fourth place rather than the lead. As he came round at the end of lap one he saw that the leader had been given a 10 place penalty, so he knew he didn't have to pass all three of the drivers in front.
At half-distance it became even tougher for the 12 year-old, as he was hit from behind and driven over by another competitor, dropping him fives places further back in the process.
Despite being in pain from the contact, Lando started a fantastic drive back with less than half the race left to run. He caught and passed the lead-chasing pack and then set off in pursuit of the leaders, lapping two-three tenths of a second faster than everyone else.
As he headed into the last lap, he had two drivers ahead of him. With just a handful of corners left to go the pair out-braked each other and made contact, forcing them wide and gifting Lando the lead and his second win of the day.
A sore but happy Lando was pleased with another successful weekend, especially with the second of his two national championships now less than a week away.
“It was a tough weekend,” he admitted. “I was able to break away in the first heat and take advantage. But, after that it was hard work! I knew that I'd done enough in the second and third heats to secure pole for the final. It was frustrating to cross the start line in fourth though.”
“I realised at the end of the first lap that I didn't have to pass all three ahead of me. We had some great battles in the early laps. It was a shock to get hit from behind and he went straight over my arm. I really didn't think I would be able to get back in touch with the leaders at that point either.”
“I got my head down and after passing the chasing group I just kept pushing. As I started the last lap I wasn't sure if I'd get a chance to go for the lead, but they made it easy for me.” he smiled.
With his confidence high and with less than a week to go before the opening round, Lando is looking forward to the start of the second of his two main championships.
“I'm quite confident, certainly more than I was before the opening Stars weekend,” he said. “I'm hoping to go out and win, but if I know that's not on then I'll be going for as many points as possible. I just need to stay out of trouble and be as close to the front for the start of the final as I can,” he added.
Lando will take to the track on Friday for pre-event testing, with the opening heats on Saturday. The remaining heats and the finals will take place on Sunday afternoon.
For more information about Oliver or Lando Norris please contact:
Adam Proctor
Magpie PR
T: 07951 165562
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